ICD-10 Code K31.A21 – Gastric intestinal metaplasia with low grade dysplasia (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K31.A21 – Gastric intestinal metaplasia with low grade dysplasia
What it is
This code identifies gastric intestinal metaplasia in the stomach with low-grade dysplasia. It means the stomach lining shows precancerous cellular change, but not cancer.
Clinical signs
Findings are usually based on pathology from gastric biopsy. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation, but reports may describe intestinal metaplasia with dysplastic epithelial changes.
When to use this code
Use this code when the provider documents gastric intestinal metaplasia and specifically states low-grade dysplasia. It is appropriate for biopsy-confirmed pathology results or endoscopic follow-up notes that clearly identify this diagnosis. Check documentation if the report only says metaplasia, dysplasia, or “indefinite” changes.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for gastric intestinal metaplasia without dysplasia, high-grade dysplasia, or gastric cancer. If the pathology wording is unclear, check documentation before assigning K31.A21.
Coding tip
Code from the provider’s final documented diagnosis, not from suspicious endoscopic appearance alone.